Learning the first additional language and learning to learn through fun and enjoyment.

Most of our Pre-School learners are five years old, turning six during the school year. They discover exciting things about themselves, other people, nature and the world. In doing so, play is never neglected. Early mathematical education, by means of the programme “Zahlenland“, (Land of Numbers) is important to us and is lots of fun for the Pre-School learners. The children’s abilities are strengthened through play in the various areas of development and their phonological self-awareness, so that they are optimally prepared for enrolment in the Deutsche Schule Pretoria.

In order to make the transition from Kindergarden into Primary School as smooth and harmonious as possible, the Pre-School was integrated into the Primary School in 2006. The pre-schoolers participate in all activities of the Primary School and thus already know the school grounds and many teachers on their day of enrolment. The close collaboration between the Primary School colleagues supports the easy transition from Pre-School into Grade 1.

We cater for the individual developmental stages of the learners through differentiation and keeping our classes to a maximum of 27 learners.

In the Primary School each class has their own class teacher. This allows flexebility of lessons by the class teacher who, in principle, teaches the core subjects German/English as first language, Mathematics and Social Studies or English, Mathematics and Social Studies. The learners feel “at home” in their classroom and their class teacher is their constant contact person for all school-related matters.

Teaching foreign languages begins in Pre-School.

English (or German) as First Additional Language, together with Religion (ecumenical) or Ethics, fall under the compulsory subjects. During the course of Grade 4, English as First Additional Language is taught on mother tongue level.

German is the medium of instruction in the Main Stream. Therefore, one of the enrolment criteria into this branch, is sufficient knowledge of the German language. The additional enrolment to German as Foreign Language (DaF) can, in certain cases, become an enrolment criteria.Scholastic Offer

Promote and Support
In the Primary School we want to establish a successive learning environment which does justice to the individual development phases of our learners. For this reason, in the Main Stream, a 2-hourly differentiation offer for the subject German takes place, parallel to the regular lessons, as of the middle of Grade 1, and a 1-hourly lesson in Mathematics as of Grade 3. Further information can be found under “Concept for Support & Promotion for the subject German“ and “Concept for Support & Promotion for the subject Mathematics“. Link

In the V-branch, the differentiation offer is also integrated into the timetable. In the subject English, it is offered for 2 hours from Grade 3. The differentiation offer for mathematics is offered 2-hourly in Grade 3 and 1-hourly in Grade 4. Link

Learners with special needs can receive additional support within the framework of the inclusion concept. For this, arrangements between the school, parents and, if required, therapists are necessary. Link Frau Grüner

Foreign Languages
Good command of at least one foreign language has become a key qualification worldwide. At the Deutsche Schule Pretoria, English is therefore already taught in Pre-School (Main Stream) for two lessons per week. In the V-Branch, German is taught for four lessons per week in the Pre-School. In Grade 1 and Grade 2 they have three lessons of German and in Grade 3, the lessons per week increase to five in both branches.

Scientific-mathematical profiling
Pre-School learners, Grade 1’s and 2’s can also participate in the profiling subject “Lego”. As a subject of special interest, learners from Grade 3 and 4 can take up “Lego Robotics” and/or “Small Experiments”.

Open Full-Day Offer
From Pre-School to Grade 2, the children have 30 lessons per week and in Grade 3 and 4 they have 34 core lessons per week.
An additional programme is offered for all children after the end of the day’s core lessons. Parents can chose whether their children should play freely (under supervision) on the Oktoberfest field until 14:10, do homework in the homework room, do an extra-mural activity or be fetched from school.
After school ends, the Primary School learners can be enrolled in the After School Care Centre and be cared for there until 17:30. We recommend the After School care at the centre to all learners, who‘s foreign language is German, as they will receive additional support with their homework and learning the language. [link]

Daily programme of the Pre-School
A balanced daily programme supports the development-orientated promotion of the child for school readiness:
• Songs and poems about the weekly topic
• Stories and discussions to enhance vocabulary and general knowledge
• Introduction to letters
• Early mathematical education using playful sums
• Opportunity to talk freely and have discussions
• Fairy tales and picture books to promote imagination and vocabulary
• Creative crafts to develop fine motor skills and creativity
• Sport and swimming lessons to improve gross motor skills
• Early musical education
• Free play to relax and promote communication and social behaviour
• Biblical stories and prayer in Religion
• Strengthening of self-esteem through several activities

Activities of the Primary School• Enrolment Celebration
• Participation at the Grandparents’ Day
• Visit to the Old Age Home (Easter coffee – a communal event with the German Embassy)
• Variety Evening
• “Schnuppertag” Open Day for future Grade 1’s
• “Schnuppertag“ Open Day for future Pre-Schoolers
• Advent Celebration
• Maths Olympiad (from Grade 3)
• “Känguru” Competition
• Class Outings / Excursions
• English Theatre
• Participation at the Entrepreneurs Day
• Swimming Gala
• “Bundesjugendspiele” and Fun Day for Pre-School – Grade 2
• Fun Run
• Ball Sports Day

During the year, there are four compulsory Saturdays. The following events take place: Swimming Gala, Open Day, Fun Run and Ball Sports Day. The school community has decided on three Sport-Saturdays so that parents can come as spectators and support their children.